Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to add a few questions to those that have been asked. Essentially, the joint committee is examining the effectiveness, timeliness and delivery of various types of programmes. The colleges and universities that are rolling out programmes certainly have to be commended. The programmes that involve students and their peers being given training to help others are definitely to be commended.

Different approaches are taken. Part of what we want to do is to look at standardisation and who delivers the programmes. We all accept and acknowledge the need for these programmes. It is heartening that the number of students taking the courses has jumped by 600% in the past 12 months. Young people are recognising the need for this and are willing to participate. That is heartening. This goes back to Deputy Jan O'Sullivan's question regarding whether it should be mandatory or voluntary. There is also a question as to whether Government funding for universities and institutes of technology should be dependent on the delivery of these classes. This needs to be taken seriously.

It is important that young people better understand the meaning of consent. There is a need to support them and improve their communication skills when they are at a vulnerable stage of their lives in to minimise the risk of inappropriate sexual behaviour. The key point is whether this needs to start at secondary level. I direct that particularly to Mr. Crosby to answer. Does the Department feel there should be standardisation and that it should be mandatory and introduced at second level, while preparing young people to take the leap into the world of third-level and further education? Perhaps there are plans to introduce consent classes at post-primary level about which Mr. Crosby can tell us. What funding is needed?

I thank Rape Crisis Network Ireland for the practical and useful suggestions it has made. I will now go back to the witnesses and stakeholders.